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Wind Cave Trip Reports - 1994

January/February 1994

At the beginning of January, the surveyed length of Wind Cave was 73.65 miles. By the end of February, Wind Cave's length was increased to 73.8 miles. The total amount of new survey accumulated during this two month period as 0.15 miles. Approximately 250 feet of previously surveyed passage was inventoried along with the 0.15 miles of inventory accomplished in conjunction with the new survey.

Dough Kent, Paul Burger, Mike Behn, and Dave HauchDoug Kent, Paul Burger, Mike Behn and Dave Houch surveyed 30.4 feet in the BEG20 survey. They pushed all of the leads off of the BEG survey and feel that this area is finished.

At the beginning of March, the surveyed length of Wind Cave was 73.8 miles. By the end of April, Wind Cave's length was increased to 74.3 miles. The total amount of new survey accumulated during this two month period was 0.5 miles. Approximately 0.45 miles of previously surveyed passage was inventoried along with the 0.5 miles of inventory accomplished in conjunction with the new survey.

Wind Cave Weekend 03/12/1994

Dave Lester and Jim WilsonDave Lester and Jim Wilson surveyed 86.6 feet in the UTG survey off of Snowdrift Avenue.

Rich Wolfert, June Golaz, Jim Shattles, and Bob StucklenRich Wolfert, June Golaz, Jim Shattles and Bob Stucklen inventoried 20 stations from AD1-20. This is a survey near the Newspaper Room along the Caving Tour.

04/23/1994Sandy Kraemer and Kathy PettySandy Kraemer and Kathy Petty came up the weekend of April 23 to prepare for an upcoming lint camp at Wind and Jewel Caves. While they were here they inventoried 43 stations in the NZ, ND and NDA surveys near Rainbow Falls.

May/June 1994

At the beginning of May, the surveyed length of Wind Cave was 74.3 miles. By the end of June, Wind Cave's length was increased to 74.9 miles. The total amount of new survey accumulated during this two month period was 0.6 miles. There was no inventory done in previously surveyed cave. A total of 0.6 miles was inventoried in conjunction with the new survey.

Wind Cave Weekend 05/14/1994

Louise Hose, Steve Lester, Al Hinman, and Rene Singer
Louise Hose led Steve Lester, Al Hinman and Rene Singer to the PMS survey where they resurveyed the PMS survey and started the PMT survey for a total of 805 feet. Louise later found a bad tie-in shot in the KY that had been causing a bad loop closure in this area.

Paul Fowler, Evan Anderson, Hazel Barton, and Bruce Albright
Paul Fowler led Evan Anderson, Hazel Barton and Bruce Albright to the Western Fringe. They surveyed 454.5 feet in the WFE2 survey, leaving more to do on another trip.

Robert Phillips, Steve Smith, Evan Anderson, and Rene Singer
Robert Phillips, Steve Smith, Evan Anderson and Rene Singer surveyed 555 feet in the WFR survey. This area includes a nicely decorated flowstone and stalactite area called "Second Helpings".

Bruce Albright, Hazel Barton, and John Ekeberg
Bruce Albright led Hazel Barton and John Ekeberg out to the Western Fringe where they surveyed 155.6 feet in the WFB survey. An unsurveyed side passage led to an unclimbable pit.

At the beginning of July, the surveyed length of Wind Cave was 74.9 miles. By the end of August, Wind Cave's length had increased to 75.5 miles. The total amount of new survey accumulated during this two month period was 0.6 miles. A total of 1.2 miles of previously surveyed cave was inventoried. In addition 0.6 miles was inventoried in conjunction with the new survey.

07/05/1994Stacy Smyth, Abby Wines, Jackie Gericke, and Dave SchifskyOn July 5, the 75th mile was reached. Stacy Smyth led Abby Wines, Jackie Gericke and Dave Schifsky back to the BL survey where they added 199.5 feet to the cave survey.

Evan Anderson, Bruce Albright, Hazel Barton, and Paul BurgerEvan Anderson led Bruce Albright, Hazel Barton and Paul Burger out to the Western Fringe Zone. They rigged a rope and dropped the 40 foot Necessary Evil pit. At the bottom they surveyed 1015.1 feet in the WFB and WFC surveys.

07/19/1994Jim Nepstad, Stan Allison, and Bob KobzaJim Nepstad led Stan Allison and Bob Kobza out beyond Necessary Evil. At the bottom of the pit they followed the WFC survey through the formerly pristine Blizzard Blvd. While checking leads, they managed to find a bypass to Blizzard Blvd. While doing some additional looking around, they found a nice room that they named Bittersweet in light of their mood at the time. Several leads were left going, indicating more cave in this area. In light of the above incident, and several other problems that had occurred in communications between the Park and cavers, Jim Nepstad decided to put a temporary halt to exploration and survey effective August 1, 1994. This hiatus was intended to give cave management time to write clear and precise guidelines for cavers and trip leaders. In addition a trip leader list was begun to insure that a qualified trip leader is on every trip into Wind Cave.

07/30/1994Stacy Smyth, Abby Wines, Emily Becker, Dave Schifsky, and Don FrankfortStacy Smyth started a full day of caving by leading Abby Wines and Emily Becker out to the AG14 and BQ4 surveys. They surveyed 110.8 feet. That afternoon Stacy led Dave Schifsky and Don Frankfort to the BQ4 survey where they surveyed 189.7 feet and found a nice wet formation area near the Coliseum. The third and final trip for the day consisted of Stacy Smyth, Abby Wines and Dave Schifsky. They surveyed 98.5 feet off the BQ4L.

Wind Cave Weekend 08/13/1994

Since survey and exploration was put on hold, the August 13 Colorado Grotto weekend consisted of inventory trips only.

Paul Burger, Evan Anderson, and Steve Lester
Paul Burger, Evan Anderson and Steve Lester inventoried 116 stations near Silent Expressway. This is the most stations that have ever been inventoried in one trip.

08/14/1994Stacy Smyth and Abby WinesStacy Smyth and Abby Wines inventoried 22 stations in the Dreamland area. This trip was cut short when one of Stacys' glasses lens fell into breakdown. Unable to retrieve the lens and worse off with one lens than none, Stacy had to exit the cave with no glasses. It took a tedious 4.5 hours to exit an area that normally takes less than an hours to get to!

September/October 1994

At the beginning of September, the surveyed length of Wind Cave was 75.5 miles. By the end of October, Wind Cave's length was increased to 75.7 miles. The total amount of new survey accumulated during this two month period was 0.2 miles. A total of 0.25 miles of previously surveyed cave was inventoried. In addition, 0.2 miles was inventoried in conjunction with the new survey.

The September Wind Cave weekend was canceled due to the unavailability of the cave management staff.

Wind Cave Weekend 10/08/1994

Louise Hose, Kim Kreb, and Petty Widhalm
Louise Hose led Kim Kreb and Perry Widhalm to the Blue Bayou in the Historic Zone. They mapped 176.3 feet in the AZA survey noting good airflow.

10/15/1994Stan Allison, Mike Wiles, and Dave ZelenkaStan Allison led Mike Wiles and Dave Zelenka out to Grease in the Southern Comfort Zone. They surveyed 390.1 feet in the LTL14 and LOK18 surveys. At the end of the day while checking leads along the west side of Blind Faith, Mike found a passage going to approximately 300 feet of cave with airflow. This area has some small pools in it and was incompletely checked, leaving an interesting lead for the next trip.

November/December 1994

At the beginning of November, the surveyed length of Wind Cave was 75.7 miles. By the end of December, Wind Cave's length was increased to 76.1 miles. The total amount of new survey accumulated during this two month period was 0.4 miles. A total of 0.2 miles of previously surveyed cave was inventoried. In addition 0.4 miles was inventoried in conjunction with the new survey.

Ed LaRock, Mike Behn, Rene Singer, and Steve LesterEd LaRock led Mike Behn, Rene Singer and Steve Lester out to the Club Room Zone. They continued the EI survey from 36 to 57, surveying 236 feet and leaving a few breakdown crawls.

Tim Moreland, Dan Hanson, Dale Lankford, and Dave SchaefbauerTim Moreland lead Dan Hanson, Dale Lankford and Dave Schaefbauer to the Titanic Room where they inventoried 30 stations along the BY survey.

Carol Boyles, Dennis Laird, and Robert Phillips
Carol Boyles led Dennis Laird and Robert Phillips along the Red and White trail to Half-Mile Hall. They performed tape trail maintenance along this travel route.

Paul Burger, Stan Allison, Evan Anderson, and Bruce AlbrightPaul Burger led Stan Allison, Evan Anderson and Bruce Albright out to the Lunatic Fringe area. They surveyed 1178 feet including a 300x50 foot long room called Bitter Sweet. Two bypasses to Blizzard Boulevard were surveyed. An eight inch high logomite was found in an area profusely decorated with aragonite. Airflow in the area entered an impenetrable breakdown choke.

12/03/1994Stan Allison, Myk Coughlin, and Mike Wiles
Stan Allison led Myk Coughlin and Mike Wiles into Coyote Cave. Making their way through the perpetual crawlways, they observed that the cave had flooded in the last two years. At the end of the cave Mike Wiles was able to squeeze through a tight passage only after removing cloting. He followed a strong breeze through approximately 500 feet of virgin crawlway. At his farthest point, the cave was still going. Both Myk and Stan were unable to fit through the tight passage.

Wind Cave Weekend 12/10/1994

Doug Kent, Paul Fowler, and Evan Anderson
Doug Kent led Paul Fowler and Evan Anderson out to the Lunatic Fringe. They surveyed 549 feet in the WFG survey. At one spot along their survey they noted many bat scratches.

Skip Withrow, Bob Stucklen, and Jamie Sherer
Skip Withrow led Bob Stucklen and Jamie Sherer to the BY survey to inventory.

Steve Smith, Robert Phillips, Mark McVey, and Kim Rowland
Steve Smith led Robert Phillips, Mark McVey and Kim Rowland to the Coke Room where they were unable to locate the start of their chosen inventory area and thus had to leave the cave with no inventory.